Chilton County did it for the first time and Jemison did it for the fifth time in a row, but both tennis programs Thursday earned the same thing: a berth in the state tennis tournament.

CCHS, a fourth-year program, finished second to three-time defending Class 5A state champion and sectional Section 5 tournament host Walker, 63-38. Demopolis was third with 18 points.

“We’re very, very proud of the guys,” coach Chris Miller said.

The top two teams from each section tournament advanced to state.

The closest CCHS came to knocking off Walker at any position was the No. 2 doubles team of Michael Elder and Cody Cummings, who stretched the second set to a 7-5 score.

Singles players Cody Jones (No. 1), Elder (No. 2), Cummings (No. 4), Justin Mims (No. 5) Nathan Gray (No. 6) and the doubles teams of Jones/Andy Foshee (No. 1), Elder/Cummings and Mims/Gray (No. 3) all finished second to Walker.

Jemison, the No. 1 team seed going into the Class 4A, Section 2 tournament, earned only three points through the first doubles round compared to eventual section champion St. James’ 12 and Holtville’s 6.

“We dug ourselves a hole,” coach Benton Morton said. “They were so uptight [Thursday] morning, but they collected themselves.”

Jemison’s No. 3 doubles team of Jake Long and Andrew Morton finished second to St. James’ team after having to retire—the team’s first loss of the season though it did earn Jemison three points.

Blake Beard (No. 1), Drew Posey (No. 3), Morton (No. 5) and Long (No. 6) all finished first in singles, and Bronson Langston was the No. 4 runner-up.

The 4A state tournament is scheduled for April 27-28 the Lagoon Park Tennis Center in Montgomery. The 5A tournament will be held the same dates but at the Mobile Tennis Center.